Leith Academy Gallery
Based on the School Magazines
Courtesy of Leith Academy http://www.leith.edin.sch.uk/
My apologies to those of you who didn`t attend the Academy.
I have put some of these pictures from the period 1940s to the 1970s; a period that most of us can remember.
I will add others later when I see how this feature is received.
I would appreciate a feedback to attach here.
For your interest here are the years I have info on.
48;50;51; 53; 55;56;57;58;59;60;61;62;63;64;65;66;67; 69;70;71; 73;74;75;76;77; 79;80
Get in line and enter the school quietly say the prefects.
Comments Wanted whether Leithy Accie or not
********
Ruth McClounnan nee McRobbie: Los Angeles: Period at school: 1942-1947
I am glad I went to Leith Academy Primary; got my basics there; reading, writing and mathmatics. Remember the ink wells? and the slate boards and slate pencil?
......
Barbara Forson: Edinburgh: Period at school: 1960/1971
......
John Stewart: Livingston, West Lothian Period at school: 1946/1949
Never played rugby whilst there. Too busy supporting the Hibs. I enjoyed the school and one of my favourite teachers was Mr Little. I think the comedy duo Little and Large must have taken their name from him. He was Little by name but Large of stature. The Latin teacher and a great Cellist in the School Orchestra. St Ninian was my House.
Mr Bathgate joined the school in my second year. He would stand at the top of the entrance stairs and watch us as we trooped in. The prefects were on duty outside supervising us into our class groups before we entered. Sometimes these prefects pulled us out and took us in later to face Mr Bathgate and his belt. These prefects had the power to give us lines. Failing to deliver them the following day, meant getting the corporal punishment.
......
Frank Condie: Edinburgh: Period at school: 1950/1954
Enjoyed my time at Leith Academy. The teachers I remember are Mr. Bathgate (his belt was called the brown bomber) and Miss. Puntis, Miss. Orr, Beanie Jackson, Mr. Todd, Mr. Lovell and last but not least Mr. Bingham P.E. Teacher.
You couldn`t mention football in front of him because he thought rugby was the only sport worth playing! (At that time Leith Academy was a rugby school).
......
Jim Gibson aka Gibby: Ottawa ,Canada: Period at school: Primary 1939 to 1946 Secondary 1946 to 1949
I can only remember Miss Stevenson, Mr Nichol and Miss Kettle the Head Mistress from the Primary. My kids dont believe me when I tell them we had wee slate board with chalk to learn the alphabet on,
Re the Secondary, Who could ever forget Mr Bathgate and his infamous belt, though I must admit when I got it, which was quite frequent, I deserved it. Will also never forget Pop Ferguson our Woodwork Teacher, Mr Bingham, Mr Little, Miss Puntis and last but not least our favourite blonde, Miss Shaw.
I have only one regret, I wish I had paid more attention when I was there, but I have nothing but fond memories of all the years spent there.
......
Lilian Graham: Portobello: Period at school: 1950 - 1953
The teachers I most remember are Mr. Hand (Maths): Mr. Milne (Latin): Mrs. Smith (French): Mrs.Pontin (Register teacher who died);: Mr. Lovell (Art): Miss Newlands (Science).
I also recognise names & faces of others having seen them in the corridors. I remember we had History in an annex in the back playground. It was basically a large shed. The teacher was an elderly gentleman but I cannot for the life of me recall his name. He was very long suffering as we were quite a rowdy crowd though! Barton was the name of my House.
......
Robin Fender:Harrogate North Yorkshire: Period at school: Primary 1941 - 46. Secondary 1947 - 51
The teachers I remember in the Primary were Mr. Cow (headmaster); Mr. Nicol, Miss M. Large, Miss K Large and Mr. Davy (Headmaster after Mr. Cow).
Secondary: Dr. Mackie (Rector), Mr. Bathgate, Mr. Stark, Mr. Beattie, Mrs. Findlayson, Miss Puntis and Mr. Bingham. My house was Barton.
I played Rugby for the 1st. XV in my final year and cricket in any team that would have me. I enjoyed my time at the Academy. I wasn't the brightest pupil, but I got bye I can still see in my mind's eye many of the boys and girls in my class as they were 50+ years ago and I often wonder where they are now.
......
Jean (Durie) McFarlane: Paisley: Period at school:1942-46
I loved the English classes with Miss Pontin but she caught me whistling with four fingers in my mouth and made me feel mortified by saying it wasn't lady-like. Mr. Little (Latin) let his double bass fall to the floor during a Commemoration Day service, much to the delight of all but the platform party.
......
Alex Sandie: San Diego, California: Period at school: 1946-49
Went there at the Couper St School teacher's recommendation, and planned to stay the full term and go to University. But only stayed 1946-49 and was always in the A1 class. I got the urge to be a man, earn some money, and go to work at 14 and then the leaving age was changed to age 15 so I was stuck! Had a chance to go to George Heriot's on a bursary but convinced my folks not to let me go there because they didnae play fitba'(of course neither did Leithy).
Some memorable pals were Peter Swanson (Swannie), Peter Steele (Steelie) was the Dux of the school, and others and we were all in the 10th BB's together. Memorable teachers were Miss Jamieson, French (she said the Scots spoke French better than the French), Daddie Little, Latin, Mr Bigham, Gym. He had me greetin' in his first class having me do neck rolls on one of these hard door mat like mats and I couldn't tuck my head in at first. I soon learned, and never looked back.
I was in the school choir one year, they only had 99 in it and wanted to make it 100, so I got the spot! Visited the new high school at Easter Road on one trip home; tried to get my school records but they said that they had not retained any beyond a certain date and mine's was a gonner!
The new high school grounds are built on the location where the first fitba' penalty kick (by Leith Athletic, I think) was taken in the late 1800's but there is no marker to designate the spot and no one seemed to care.
......
Ian Ross; Edinburgh; Period at school 1950s - 1960s
Do we believe that our schooldays are the best years of our life? Not Primary school, but REAL school! I did, and I think that it was a privilege to be taught at such a great school.The teachers in the 1950s and 1960s were just fantastic - it was like a 'calling' for them - not a job.
They really cared how you got on. The ones that I remember? 'Chunky' Young (Maths), 'Hissing Sid' Lucas (English), 'Goofy' Gibson (English), 'Pop' Adams (Music), 'Bulldog' Drummond (Head), 'The Tuffet' Moffet (Lady Advisor), Harry Milne (Latin), Charlie Lovell (Art), Elliot Wardlaw (Science), Miss Cormack (RE), Mr Bigham (PE). Great times!!!
......
Gordon Smithson: Perth, Australia: Period at school:1971 - 1977
I was at Craigentinny PS and went to Leithy for secondary. 800 students and a new principal...oops, head master....I've been in Australia too long, haha.
Mr McKay took over, Miss Cormack (McCormack?) was getting on and Mr McLean and Mr Wardlaw were right at the end of their career.....and had a sense of history of the school about them. The new teachers were the new breed ...knowledgeable but without the grace, humour and eccentricty the older teachers, such as 'Johnnie B (Mr Bathgate) had about them.
Anyway, in third year we became a comprehensive school and joined up with Norton Park. They were such a tough rough school that the prefects all came from the 1st 15 rugby team! All my time at the school we were expecting to have a new school. As it turned out that didn't happen until 20 years later! Going to Leith Academy gave me a sense of time and place; a feeling of belonging in such a historic school.
......
Maureen Logue: Ontario, Canada. Period at school: Primary and Secondary Easter of 1944 to summer of 1955
When I started primary, the last year of the war, the first thing we did was to be taken to the boys playground and shown the air raid shelters. Then we were instructed on how to line up if the bell sounded and we had to go to them.
I remember learning to do sums on a little sand tray with a stick. It was great if you made a mistake, just give the tray a little shake and start over again. Miss Keir (Kerr) was our teacher then we had Miss Robertson, Miss Kirkness then Mr Reid.
Secondary Miss Ross the French teacher was our home room teacher, Mr Milne for Latin, Mr Patterson for English; he was from Ayrshire. The Science teacher, I can't remember her name, I was terrified of her, most of the others are forgotten over time.
I was in St Andrews House just because my older sister was in that house though I never knew what the houses were for. I went to school and came home daily. Could not tell you if they had playing fields or where they were (Hawkhill) or if there were any extra curricular activities at the school....But the teachers made sure in primary that you could read, write, do arithmatic and were ready to go and succeed in Secondary school. No one was passed to the next grade till they were ready and no one came out of school unable to read and write.
Now children are passed on through the system (here in Canada) with the excuse that it is not fair to fail a child it will hurt their feelings and they won't be with their peers if they are held back. Go figure! We the old Leithers were the lucky ones; teachers and a school board that cared. Scotland used to have the best education system in the world, I don't think they have any more but I could be wrong.
......
Anonymous: Edinburgh Period at school: 2005-2011
I'm still at school; I'm a prefect; I'm young and enjoying myself. And Of course I'll miss Leith Academy.
......
Willie Bell: Livingston' Period at school: 1956 - 1959
My time at Leith Academy is remembered with mixed feelings. the low was the fact that it did not have a football team as like most boys of that age football was the game we played. The high was the many friendships with my classmates.
I was in the "t" class (I believe we were the last "t") which stood for technical. We were an all boys class,; 19 in total which by today`s standards would be a dream.
Mr Grieve was our form teacher, Teachers I remember best were Mr Wallace who taught us German, "Pop" Adams music, Todd science, Whitelaw English, etc
......
Jim Cunningham, Edinburgh, but close to Leith. Period at school:1958-1962
Didn't settle at Leithy secondary school as it all seemed so much bigger and much more frightening than I was used to at Dr Bell's. I went into an A2 class, and my best pals went into the A1 class, and I suddenly felt very much on my own.
I remember some real scary characters on the teaching staff tho' - Dick McKenzie, Mr. Little, Mr. Barrowman (English), Mr Linton (History) Mr Wardlaw (Science).
Best of the teachers as I remember them (only because my grades were better in their classes!) were Miss Cormack in French, Mr. Wallace in Latin, Mr Davidson in Geography, and Mr Ramsay was a real gentleman.
I wonder how they would all have coped with modern day "pupil power?"
......
Jacqueline, Scotland. Period at school: 1963-1970 1970-1975
My teachers at the Primary were in order...ish...Miss Brown, Miss Dodds, Mr Stevens, Miss Stevenson, Mr Harper, who was thankfully only there the one year, but it was without doubt the worst year in my school life. The man was insane. Miss Hall was a lovely graceful and elegant lady who saw us out of primary 7 and into Prep Hamer in the annexe.
The secondary was as Gordon Smithson said; a place which oozed history, discipline which is sadly lacking in schools these days as far as I can see. We knew where we stood, we knew the rules, and what would happen to us if we went over the line.Mr Little was a dignified and intelligent man who I had very little to do with, but Mr Bathgate stood no nonsense. Douglas Mackay was the rector who took over after Mr Little, and was a fair and fun man. He made no bones about the join up with Norton Park, stating catagorically in the school magazine at the time that he wished there could be bars on the windows. He did not like that they wore black blazers as our blue ones were a lovely colour and classier. It was the beginning of the end, a joint experiment which dragged this great school down...the atmosphere went from dignified to rough as hell over night. I remember clearly what Gordon said about the prefects...they had to do this.
Re teachers, dear Mrs Hunter the cooking teacher and the side kick Miss Rioch...what fun we had at her expense. Mr Robers, English, always smelling of a pipe and lemon soap mix! Mrs Cunningham the history teacher, the old French teacher, don't remember his name but he always seemed a tad sleazy...but the king of them all has to be dear Mr Dickson, my what a character he was...fluent in French, German and Russian, but not a lot of patience for the kids.
When I see the ridiculous state education is in now, I can only be thankful that we were there at the right time....a time which allowed us to develop, grow and know we had help if and when we needed it...and to have been part of such a dignified and historic school I can agree with Gordon in that we were very lucky indeed.
******
Subscriber name and address not attached
Were schooldays the best days of my life? Perhaps not (which only means that there were other better times).
I think that there are two types of Leith Accie. Those who "got the place", who felt the history and traditions of the school and embraced their part in the continuation of them. And then there are those who just didn't "get it". I think the "school" failed many of these people as ways were not found to make them feel included and to be honest, if they felt on the outside, I am not sure we tried hard enough to include them.
Because the school was so full of baby boomers, we had to spend the first couple of years at Norton Park under Kamp Kommandant Miss Mutch. You couldn't get more old school than her. I remember she would never use the mic. at school assemblies in the church next door. I'm not sure I ever heard a word she said.
She was the ideal deputy for the Rector Mr McKay.
I think at that time, the school was spread over eight or nine buildings as well as Hawkhill, and we also had PE at Meadowbank, Leith Community Centre, Swimming at the "Viccies" and some lunches at Strangs Buildings. What a campus!
I am happy to say that I met my spouse there, made most of my lifelong friends through the school and associated sports clubs' and am very glad to say that I have been on friendly terms with many of my former teachers as well as the Rector in the years since leaving.
It warms my heart to know that my children have since been taught by many of the teachers who helped shape our lives. Special mentions should go to Mr. Mason, Mr. McCloud, Mr Oulton, Mr.Mclean, Mr. Wood among many. Looking back though, Two teachers stand out most in my memories; Mr Da Prato (now a Falkland Islander I believe) and Mr McCabe (known by many unfair nicknames) both of whom I wish I could now sit down with over a pint.
Since the "Rector" left, standards have nosedived, I personally believe, because the new "Headmasters" or "Head Teachers" did not come from schools with Tradition and it seemed that they have been intent on tearing down our history brick by brick.
As of 2010, Leith Academy has a new "Head" who comes from a school with an even greater Tradition than Leith. I am happy to say that unlike Canute, the tide does indeed seem to be turning back a little.
Finally, to any fine people from Trinity and Portobello who may stumble upon this site, The rivalries were great but rest assured, if we ever meet on a sports field or even a pub quiz, let battle commence.
*******
